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Chapter 1: What percentage of Americans find housing unaffordable?
This week on the NPR Politics Podcast, 70% of Americans say they live somewhere that isn't affordable for average families. That's up from just 45% over the summer. But with Trump, he has unilaterally pushed a lever that makes prices go up. The shifting politics of tariffs and affordability for President Trump on the NPR Politics Podcast. Listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. The Venezuelan government is denouncing the U.S. interception of a second oil tanker, saying it will take the issue to the U.N. Security Council. The U.S. Coast Guard stopped the tanker yesterday. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports on the escalation of the Trump administration's pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted video on social media of a Coast Guard helicopter landing on the tanker Centuries, which she said was moving sanctioned oil. The ship does not appear on the Treasury Department's public list of sanctioned oil tankers, but the White House says it was carrying Venezuelan oil and falsely flagged as Panamanian.
President Trump declared a blockade on Venezuela's sanctioned oil, which he claimed without explanation was stolen from the U.S. A blockade is considered an act of war under international maritime law. The U.S. Navy currently has a fleet off the coast of Venezuela, and President Trump has suggested attacks inside Venezuelan territory may be imminent. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
Turning Point USA is wrapping up its annual conference in Phoenix today. NPR's Elena Moore reports on the largest event the group has held since its founder, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated three months ago.
Turning Point says more than 30,000 supporters are attending this year's conference, known as AmericaFest, roughly a 10,000-person boost from last year, a potential sign of continued momentum moving forward, despite losing Charlie Kirk. That said, for many attendees, his death remains gutting.
25-year-old Angie Perez credits the late activist with helping reinforce her conservative Christian beliefs.
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Chapter 2: How is the U.S. government responding to Venezuela's oil situation?
It makes me really emotional because I viewed him as like, he's my hero. And I always saw him as like an older brother that I never had.
Several of Kirk's close allies will close out the conference on Sunday, including Vice President J.D. Vance, who's expected to give the final address. Elena Moore, NPR News, Phoenix.
The Israeli Security Cabinet today approved 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. This comes days after the UN said the expansion of Israeli settlements there had reached its highest level in eight years. The BBC's Shaima Khalil reports from Jerusalem.
These decisions were announced by the far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who proposed this move alongside the defense minister, Israel Katz. These latest approvals take the total number of settlements that have been approved in the last three years by the current government to 69.
Mr. Smotrich, who's a settler himself, he's a big advocate of the expansion, has said that this aims to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, but also mentioned Israel's ancestral right. All settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law.
The BBC's Shaima Khalil reporting from Jerusalem. This is NPR News in Washington. Today is a national day of reflection in Australia to honour the 15 people killed during a Jewish festival one week ago. Thousands of people gathered today at Bondi Beach in Sydney where the attack took place. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the officials. He was booed when his name was announced.
He's been criticised for not doing enough to counter a rise in anti-Semitism in Australia. An engineer from Germany made history this weekend, 62 miles above the Earth. NPR's Amy Held reports on the first wheelchair user to go to space.
From the edge of space back down to the West Texas desert, Mihi Benthouse was still beaming as she emerged from the Blue Origin space capsule.
It was the coolest experience ever.
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